Jose Aldo was scheduled to defend his UFC featherweight title at UFC 149 against Erik Koch, but had to pull out of the fight with an injury. The title fight was re-scheduled for UFC 153 on October 13th, but Koch has suffered an injury and he is out of the title fight.
Replacing Koch in the main event will be former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who will be making his featherweight debut in the title fight against Aldo.
The news of the change was first reported by USA Today and the UFC has confirmed the change in the main event of the next UFC card in Brazil.
ch-ch-ch-changes “
@mmajunkiejohn: Superfight Alert-USA TODAY: Frankie Edgar replaces Erik Koch, meets Jose Aldo at UFC bit.ly/PDc563”— UFC (@ufc) August 31, 2012
Edgar (14-3-1) recently announced his intentions to drop down to the featherweight division after back to back defeats to current lightweight champion Benson Henderson. UFC President Dana White has wanted Edgar to dropped down to featherweight since he lost his lightweight title earlier this year.
Aldo (21-1) is on a 14 fight winning streak and this will be his fourth featherweight title defense in the UFC. His last title defense came at the beginning of the year when he defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 142 in Brazil.
UFC 153: Aldo vs. Edgar takes place on October 13th from the HSBC Arena and the current fight card is below:
Main Card:
Jose Aldo (Champ) vs. Frankie Edgar – Featherweight Title Bout
Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story
Preliminary Card:
Rony Jasonvs. Sam Sicilia
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Geronimo Dos Santos
Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino
Gleison Tibau vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Renee Forte vs. Sergio Moraes
Chris Camozzi vs. Luiz Cane
Reza Madadi vs. Cristiano Marcello